The Wärtsilä 32 series of main engine will be installed on the new rescue vessels ordered by China

Wärtsilä to supply propulsion solutions for four Chinese Government vessels

Wärtsilä, the Finnish multinational marine equipment company, has announced that it has been contracted by the Chinese government to supply a comprehensive propulsion package for four new ocean rescue vessels.

The order, which has been placed by China's Communications Import & Export Corporation, will see Wärtsilä supply equipment to China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The construction of the four vessels will be take place at CSSC’s Guangzhou Huang-Pu Shipbuilding Company Ltd shipyard in China.

Aaron Bresnahan, vice president, sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power, said: “The harsh environment in which they will operate means that efficiency and reliability are of paramount importance. Wärtsilä's fully integrated propulsion solutions are engineered to meet the most demanding requirements.”

The new rescue vessels will be operated by the Chinese Government's Ministry of Transportation, Rescue and Salvage Bureau. Wärtsilä claims to have delivered equipment to the Ministry for more than 15 years and also credits itself to have been the first European company to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government department.

According to the company, the latest order was signed in the second quarter of 2013 and is part of a series of contracts covering a total of 22 vessels.

The vessels involved in the latest order are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2014.